SeaQuest (aquariums)

SeaQuest Holdings, LLC
Seaquest
Company typePrivate
FoundedNovember 2015
Headquarters
Boise, Idaho
,
U.S.
Area served
United States
Key people
Vince Covino, founder and CEO[1]
ServicesEntertainment, aquariums, petting zoos
Revenue$5 million
Number of employees
300
Websitevisitseaquest.com

SeaQuest Holdings, LLC better known as just SeaQuest, is an interactive marine, exotic mammal, and bird/reptile life attraction chain. It was founded by Vince Covino and features hands-on animal interactions at shopping malls throughout the United States.[2] The company has locations in Utah, Las Vegas, New Jersey, California and Minnesota.[3] SeaQuest has attracted considerable controversy and legal issues due to concerns over its animal care standards.

History

[edit]

SeaQuest was established in 2015 by Vince Covino.[4] Prior to the launch of SeaQuest, along with his brother Ammon, founded Portland Aquarium in 2012 (closed 2016),[5] the Austin Aquarium in 2013[6] and the San Antonio Aquarium in 2014.[7]

SeaQuest opened its first location at Layton, Utah in 2016.[8] This location was followed by one in the Las Vegas area, which also opened in 2016 at The Boulevard Mall.[9] A third location opened in Fort Worth, Texas in 2017.[10]

SeaQuest provides an immersive experience for visitors by allowing guests to touch, feed, and interact with exotic birds, reptiles, mammals, and marine life through hands-on exhibits throughout the aquarium.[11] Although similar to its sister aquariums, SeaQuest locations are usually housed within shopping malls.

SeaQuest's Littleton, Colorado location opened in June 2018.[12] SeaQuest went on to open its fifth location in Folsom in September 2018.[13][12] The company's location at the Stonecrest Mall opened in 2021 and was the first step of a redevelopment project by Stonecrest Resorts.[14]

In June 2023, the Stonecrest, Georgia location permanently closed. A new aquarium is supposed to be taking over the location.[15] In August 2023, the Trumbull, Connecticut location permanently closed after years of animal welfare violations.[16]

SeaQuest employee with tegu.
SeaQuest employee with an Asian water monitor.

Locations

[edit]

As of 2024, SeaQuest currently has 5 locations across the United States.[3]

Location Date Opened
Layton, Utah 2016
Las Vegas, Nevada 2016
Folsom, California 2018[17]
Roseville, Minnesota 2018[18]
Woodbridge, New Jersey 2019[19]
SeaQuest employee dressed as a mermaid.
SeaQuest employee dressed as a mermaid.

Former locations

[edit]
Location Date Opened Date Closed
Fort Worth, Texas 2017 October 28, 2024[20]
Littleton, Colorado 2018[21] February 7, 2024[22]
Lynchburg, Virginia 2019[23] October 18, 2024[24]
Stonecrest, Georgia 2021[7] 2023 [25]
Trumbull, Connecticut 2019[18] 2023 [26]

Community engagement

[edit]

SeaQuest organized an event in collaboration with Layton Communities That Care to support the prevention underage drinking.[27] In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, SeaQuest's Stonecrest location also offered free COVID vaccinations.[28][[29] SeaQuest also organized an event for Georbrand Jackson, a 10-year-old who was injured in a drive-by shooting, in December 2021.[30][31]

Violations and incidents

[edit]

SeaQuest has been subject to boycott and protests by animal-rights advocates such as PETA[32] and actor Alec Baldwin, who blocked an aquarium from being constructed on Long Island.[33] In addition, SeaQuest has had numerous violations and incidents at its various locations.[34]

Littleton, Colorado

[edit]
  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife suspended SeaQuest's exhibitor's license for two years due to an abundance of egregious violations related to the animals' welfare at the facility.[35]
  • In 2019, a sloth named Flash was burned by a heat lamp on two occasions resulting in significant burns to its face.[36] The employee responsible for the animal's care was charged with cruelty-to-animals, but was found not guilty.[37]
  • In 2018, Colorado Parks and Wildlife cited and fined SeaQuest for failing to report the death of a regulated kookaburra and issued warnings for the unlawful importation and possession of six wood ducks, unlawful importation of a caiman and wallaby, five counts of failing to report injuries to humans, and failing to report the deaths of 250 trout.[38]
  • In 2018, SeaQuest failed a Colorado Department of Agriculture pre-license inspection. Issues included illegal transfer of koi fish, unsanitary conditions, and allowing visitors to walk through the aviary while birds were grounded, creating a precarious environment where the birds were vulnerable to being stepped on.[39]
  • Additional events in 2018 included SeaQuest storing approximately 80 parakeets in an employee's garage after the company was ordered to shut down the interactive aviary,[40] and a state fine for SeaQuest's unlawful procurement of a two-toed sloth and failure to obtain an appropriate license for the animal.[41]
  • Approximately 30 injuries involving animal-to-human bites were reported to occur between June 2018 and January 2019.[42]
  • Permanently closed on February 4, 2024 due to animal welfare violations.[43]
A kid petting a snake at SeaQuest.
A kid petting a snake at SeaQuest.

Las Vegas, Nevada

[edit]
  • In 2019, Clark County Administrative Services suspended SeaQuest's exotic-animal permit because the facility held unpermitted otters and coatimundi. The agency imposed a $2,000 fine due to an Asian small-clawed otter dying after being caught in a water pool filtration system, and imposed an additional $2,000 fine for unpermitted animal breeding of Asian small-clawed otters.[33][44]
  • In 2018, a capybara named Wesley escaped while en route to a veterinary office and was injured in the process.[45]

Fort Worth, Texas

[edit]
  • In 2019, the United States Department of Agriculture cited SeaQuest for failing to reduce the risk of injury to visitors during public encounters with an Asian small-clawed otter.[46]
  • In 2024, both local and federal officials confirmed the Fort Worth location was under investigation following animal-neglect complaints from former SeaQuest employees.[47] The aquarium closed in October of that year.[48]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium CEO talks about plans, critics". CTInsider.com. September 14, 2019.
  2. ^ Drake, Sarah (June 6, 2013). "Portland, Boise aquarium owners bringing one to Austin". Austin Business Journal. Austin. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium & Petting Zoo | Buy Tickets Online & Save". SeaQuest USA.
  4. ^ "Arrest is latest problem for family tied to new Utah aquarium". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  5. ^ "Portland Aquarium to close in 2016". The Seattle Times. December 18, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Lim, Andra. "Austin Aquarium opens as scrutiny increases". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Sears, David (October 16, 2014). "KSAT gets behind the scenes look at new SA aquarium". KSAT. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  8. ^ "Aquarium offering 'interactive' experience coming to Layton Hills Mall". standard.net. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  9. ^ "The Boulevard Welcomes SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium with Sharks, Stingrays and other Marine Animals". December 18, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  10. ^ "Want to swim with sharks and stingrays? A look inside the new aquarium at Ridgmar". star-telegram.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  11. ^ "Our Story". SeaQuest USA. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  12. ^ a b "SeaQuest to Open Newest Interactive Aquarium Near Sacramento". InPark Magazine. April 3, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  13. ^ "Let's Go: Visit with the animals at Folsom's SeaQuest". goldcountrymedia.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Hansen, Zachary. "Developer says new aquarium at Stonecrest mall is just the beginning". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  15. ^ "SeaQuest Stonecrest to close for renovations and reopen under new name, management".
  16. ^ "SeaQuest Connecticut announces closure".
  17. ^ "Let's Go: Visit with the animals at Folsom's SeaQuest". goldcountrymedia.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Grice, Jordan (July 2, 2019). "SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium opens in Trumbull". Connecticut Post. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  19. ^ "SeaQuest Aquarium Coming to Woodbridge, NJ This Fall". Mommy Poppins. May 6, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  20. ^ Natalie Neysa Alund, "SeaQuest under investigation, closes Fort Worth location over animal neglect allegations," USATODAY.com, 30 October 2024.
  21. ^ Kleiman, Joe (April 3, 2018). "SeaQuest to Open Newest Interactive Aquarium Near Sacramento". InPark Magazine. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  22. ^ Lavezzorio, Claire (January 29, 2024). "SeaQuest Littleton to close after years of citations, injuries to visitors and animals". Denver7 News. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  23. ^ Irby, Sarah (October 2019). "SeaQuest to open October 18 in Lynchburg". wdbj7.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  24. ^ "SeaQuest". October 14, 2024.
  25. ^ "SeaQuest Stonecrest to close for renovations and reopen under new name, management". Yahoo News. June 15, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  26. ^ Holmes-Brown, Shaniece (August 17, 2023). "Trumbull SeaQuest closing follows two more USDA inspections". CT Post. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  27. ^ "SeaQuest Aquarium scavenger hunt to prevent underage drinking". FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU). March 30, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  28. ^ Hansen, Zachary. "Stonecrest aquarium offers free admission, $100 gift cards to vaccinated visitors". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  29. ^ "DeKalb Commissioner Cochran-Johnson, developer Vaughn Irons co-sponsors 2nd free COVID-19 vaccination event". On Common Ground News. January 27, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  30. ^ "SeaQuest provides "magical" day to 10-year-old Stonecrest boy who was injured in drive-by shooting". On Common Ground News. December 31, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  31. ^ "10-Year-Old Boy Who Was Shot Gets Merry Christmas At SeaQuest Stonecrest". Decatur-Avondale Estates, GA Patch. December 29, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  32. ^ "PETA calls out Utah aquarium that was cited after several guests bitten". ABC4 Utah. March 21, 2022.
  33. ^ a b "Citation issued as SeaQuest remains under investigation". KTNV. February 25, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  34. ^ "Inspection Report". acis.aphis.edc.usda.gov. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  35. ^ "CPW suspends license for SeaQuest aquarium". KMGH. May 15, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  36. ^ "SeaQuest Criminal Trial Set After Sloth Suffers Burns (Aug. 2019)". PETA. May 15, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  37. ^ "Aquarium worker found not guilty of animal cruelty in case of an injured sloth". The Denver Post. October 2, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  38. ^ "SeaQuest license suspended after repeated violations". Colorado Community Media. May 15, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  39. ^ "New SeaQuest aquarium fails 2 animal welfare inspections". FOX31 Denver. July 19, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  40. ^ "SeaQuest stores 80 parakeets in teenager's garage; state investigating". FOX31 Denver. August 8, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  41. ^ Fleming, Sara (September 5, 2019). "SeaQuest Littleton Employee Faces Animal-Neglect Charges". Westword. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  42. ^ "State investigating SeaQuest, 30 injuries reported". KMGH. February 28, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  43. ^ "SeaQuest Littleton to close following animal welfare concerns". CBS News. January 28, 2024.
  44. ^ "Another animal death uncovered at SeaQuest". KTNV. June 28, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  45. ^ "Capybara found safe after brief escape from Las Vegas aquarium". October 23, 2018.
  46. ^ "SeaQuest in Hot Water Over Dangerous Public Handling of Otter". PETA. March 14, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  47. ^ Allie Spillyards, "Former aquarium employee speaks out as federal, local agencies begin investigation amid allegations of neglect," NBCDFW.com, 22 August 2024.
  48. ^ Natalie Neysa Alund, "SeaQuest under investigation, closes Fort Worth location over animal neglect allegations," USATODAY.com, 30 October 2024.
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